KONGSBERG (VG) A Danish citizen (37) has been charged after five people were killed and two injured. The police are investigating terror and the Norwegian police are armed. The accused acknowledges the facts.
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The accused’s defense counsel, lawyer Fredrik Neumann, informs VG.
Shortly afterwards, the police confirmed to NTB that the accused used other weapons in addition to a bow and arrow.
– There is at least a bow and arrow and another, says Mathiassen to VG.
She can not say anything about which weapons are in question for the sake of future testimony.
It was Wednesday night that a man attacked several people in Kongsberg.
– We can unfortunately confirm that there are five people killed, and two injured, said regional leader Øyvind Aas in the Southeast police district, at a press conference at 23 on Wednesday.
The police are expected to present a new update at a press conference on Thursday morning at 10:00.
– I can not say much more about the content of the investigation, says Aas at 07 o’clock Thursday morning.
On Thursday night, the police confirmed that the man charged is a Danish citizen and is 37 years old. He lives in Kongsberg. The police write that they inform about this because there are many rumors circulating on social media about possible perpetrators who can not be linked to the killings.
At 18.13 on Wednesday, the police in Kongsberg received the first reports that a man was moving around the city and shot with a bow and arrow.
A little over half an hour later, at 18.47, the man was arrested.
– The time from the reports to the arrest was confusing, says regional leader Aas.
The man moved over a large area, and was for a period out of police control.
Police attorney Mathiassen says that they are still not sure if all relatives have been informed.
– Therefore, we do not go out with any information about the deceased.
She adds, however, that there is nothing to suggest that he was looking for one type of people.
Police fired warning shots during the arrest. The man was taken to the arrest at the police station in Drammen on Wednesday night.
Two people receive intensive care in hospital, but should not be life-threateningly injured. One of them is a policeman, who was attacked by the perpetrator in Kongsberg center in his spare time.
1 of 13Photo: Endre Alsaker-Nøstdahl, VG
The perpetrator has – as far as the police know – acted alone.
It is too early to say anything about the motivation for the action, the police stated on Wednesday at 23 o’clock.
– It is natural to investigate whether this is a terrorist act, Aas said on Wednesday night.
The accused moved over a large area and therefore there are several crime scenes.
– The police secure clues where criminal acts have taken place, Aas said.
To Laagendalsposten stated they have:
– We will probably not do the forensic investigations as quickly, we have a goal to do them as quickly as possible. We ask for the understanding of those who live and travel in the area that we must do this.
The accused has got lawyer Fredrik Neumann as defense counsel, the police say.
VG met Neumann when he was on his way to the police station in Drammen on Thursday night, but the defender had no comment on the case.
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The police in Norway are temporarily armed after the serious incident and PST has been informed about the case.
– We are in close dialogue with ordinary police, says senior adviser in PST, Martin Bernsen, to VG.
Oslo police district assists with national resources, helicopter and emergency squad, press officer Unni Grøndal in the Oslo police tells VG.
Oslo University Hospital (OUS) coordinated AMK after the violence and Drammen Hospital was put on standby.
OUS had not been informed that patients were on their way to them on Wednesday night, but still asked the emergency department to follow the situation closely.
– As of now, we assist with eight ambulances and have coordinated three air ambulances to the area, said press officer Anders Bayer in Oslo University Hospital to NTB on Wednesday night.
The municipality set up crisis staff and reception at Gyldenløve hotel for those who need support from the municipality’s psychosocial team.
– We are working to get an overview of the situation, and get more information, said press officer in Vestre Viken HF, Ole Jonny Karlstrøm, to VG on Wednesday.
The police have confirmed that one of the crime scenes was a Coop Extra store in Kongsberg.
– I can confirm that there has been a serious incident in our Coop at Kongsberg, said press contact Silje Alisø to VG.
She said none of their employees were physically injured.
– Now we are concerned with following up our employees, she said.
Alisø can not answer more questions regarding the incident.
The bomb squad was in place at 7.40 pm, and large ambulance resources were sent from Oslo in the direction of Kongsberg.
Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland is following the situation closely, according to the Ministry of Justice.
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